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Tyrannical

Exercising power in a cruel, unjust, and arbitrary way; like a tyrant.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a ruler who watches every move, demands total obedience, and punishes the slightest hint of disobedience—guards stand at every door, and dissent is swiftly crushed.

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Sounds Like

tuh-RAN-uh-kuhl

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Looks Like

Looks like 'tyrant' and 'tyranny'—shares the same root and idea of oppressive rule.

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Remember This

Tyranny, Tyrant, and Tyrannical all share the same root and concept of oppressive power; the word often relates to governments or leaders, not just personal behavior.

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Other Forms

tyrannicallyadverb

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Connect With

tyrant, tyranny, autocratic, despotic, dictatorial, oppressive

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Note

Use tyrannical to describe systems, regimes, or leaders characterized by oppressive, arbitrary rule. Do not confuse with merely strict or harsh rules; it implies cruelty and oppression. The adverb form is tyrannically.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The tyrannical regime suppressed dissent and jailed opponents without trial.
Her tyrannical boss micromanaged every email and meeting, leaving staff burned out.

Synonyms

despoticoppressiveautocraticdictatorialtyrannous

Antonyms

lenientmercifulpermissive

Etymology

From Latin tyrannicus, via Greek tyrannikos, from tyrannos meaning 'tyrant'; related to tyranny and tyrant, conveying rule by unchecked power.

Mnemonic

T Y R A N N I C A L: Tyrant + -ical. Remember that if something is tyrannical, it is like a tyrant.